Joel Castro Pereira

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Joel Castro Pereira

Birthdate : 28 Jun 1996
Birthplace : Boudevilliers, Switzerland
Position : Goalkeeper
Joined United : 11 Jul 2012

Joel Castro Pereira joined the club in the summer of 2012 after a successful trial spell with the youth team.

The youngster has dual Swiss-Portuguese nationality after being born in Boudevilliers and playing for Neuchetal Xamax. A humble personality, he admits he had to pinch himself when he was eating in the canteen alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and a number of the first-team stars.

Pereira is a Portugal Under-17 international and made two appearances for United's Under-18s in 2012/2013 as he adapted to life in English football and awaited the required paperwork to be processed.

Highly rated by former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele, he kept goal in the 2013 Milk Cup final victory against Co Tyrone and continued to make progress throughout 2013/2014. Appearances in the UEFA Youth League enhanced his reputation and he even wore the captain's armband for the first time during the Academy term.

The imposing shot-stopper performed at Old Trafford in the 2-2 draw with Norwich City for Warren Joyce's Under-21s towards the end of the campaign and forced his way into the reckoning to be considered as Ben Amos' deputy at that level with Sam Johnstone out on loan.

As the 2014/15 campaign approached, he looked to be favourite to become no.1 at that level and competed in the pre-season friendlies. Coach Alan Fettis stated: "Joel developed well last season – he’s a good learner who picks things up very quickly. His English is now excellent. He wants to improve like all the goalkeepers do.

He’s competitive and often has penalty competitions with the other players with Nando’s as the prize! He has the character that he doesn’t want to be beaten. Joel has potential to be a top goalkeeper and is progressing well."

With plenty of competition between the posts, he managed nine outings for Joyce's side last season and kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford in a 4-0 thumping of Manchester City that, ultimately, proved enough to clinch the Under-21 Premier League title.

Although there are plenty of facets to his game that he will continue working on, he will be striving for further progress and proving his capabilities over the coming year. A loan move to Rochdale appeared a natural step in the early part of 2015/16 and, after initially returning to United, he agreed a deal until early January.

An outstanding debut against Morecambe in the Football League Trophy, when he saved a penalty, helped showcase his potential and he returned to United looking even more confident and commanding.

Joyce was delighted to be able to call upon Pereira again and told ManUtd.com: "He's a great personality and is also a decent keeper. He's a good kid and exactly how you want a Manchester United person to be. It's pleasing for him to come back and play."

Pereira was named on the senior team's bench for the first time for the second leg of the Europa League tie with Midtjylland at Old Trafford.

http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Reserves/Joel-Castro-Pereira.aspx?HP